{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-18/aaka-space-underwater-spaceflight-analog-mission","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-18/aaka-space-underwater-spaceflight-analog-mission.md","title":"AAKA Space Plans India's First Underwater Spaceflight Analog","headline":"AAKA Space to Run India's First Underwater Human Spaceflight Analog Mission in Gujarat","description":"AAKA Space will run a 24-hour underwater spaceflight analog trial in Gujarat in December, followed by a 72-hour mission in March 2027.","section":"Expansion","published_at":"2026-10-18T03:54:08+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-18T03:54:08+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["AAKA Space will conduct a 24-hour underwater human spaceflight analog trial in Gujarat in December, with a 72-hour mission to follow in March 2027.","Founder and CEO Astha Jhala said the mission aims to build a high-fidelity habitat simulating operational, physiological and psychological challenges of human spaceflight.","The mission is intended to support ISRO's Gaganyaan programme and the Samudrayaan mission, and an agreement will be signed with the Indian Navy."],"companies":[{"name":"AAKA Space Studio","is_primary":true,"profile_url":null,"website":"https://www.aakaspacestudio.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"New Indian Express","title":"Aaka Space plans india’s first underwater human spaceflight analog mission in Gujarat","url":"https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2026/Oct/18/aaka-space-plans-indias-first-underwater-human-spaceflight-analog-mission-in-gujarat"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Expansion","AAKA Space Studio"],"body_markdown":"AAKA Space Studio plans to conduct India's first underwater human spaceflight analog mission, beginning with a 24-hour trial in Gujarat in December and a 72-hour follow-up in March 2027. The [New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2026/Oct/18/aaka-space-plans-indias-first-underwater-human-spaceflight-analog-mission-in-gujarat) reported that the trial will take place in a controlled environment, while the location for the longer mission is yet to be finalised.\n\n## AAKA Space's Two-Part Underwater Mission\n\nAAKA Space Studio is a private company working on human spaceflight analog missions, and it previously conducted the Ladakh Human Analog Mission. The underwater mission is designed to create a habitat that reproduces the operational, physiological and psychological demands of spaceflight.\n\n\"The underwater mission aims to create a high-fidelity habitat capable of simulating several operational, physiological and psychological challenges associated with human spaceflight,\" said Astha Jhala, Founder and CEO of AAKA Space. Jhala said the need for advanced astronaut training environments and human-performance research platforms is becoming increasingly significant as India advances toward crewed missions through ISRO's Gaganyaan programme and long-duration habitation ambitions through the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.\n\nUnderwater environments are considered the closest analogs to outer space. Inside underwater habitats, astronauts experience isolation, confinement, dependence on engineered life-support systems, restricted mobility, altered spatial orientation and operational risk, conditions similar to those faced in spacecraft and in space. The tests will also support the upcoming Samudrayaan mission.\n\nUnderwater habitat studies have shown that confined environments can influence cardiovascular function, respiratory response, fatigue, stress, sleep cycles and cognitive performance, particularly when atmospheric conditions such as elevated carbon dioxide accumulation are not effectively controlled. AAKA Space is partnering with ISRO, and an agreement will also be signed with the Indian Navy for the mission.\n\n## December Trial and March 2027 Mission Dates\n\nThe 24-hour trial is scheduled for December in a controlled environment in Gujarat. The 72-hour mission is planned for March 2027, with its location still to be finalised. The agreement with the Indian Navy is to be signed for the mission.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}